Rockable tank textile washing machine



March 28, 1950 w. o. MANLEY 2,502,053

EocKABLE TANK TEXTILE WASHING MACHINE Filed May 2o, 194e BY f l ATTO/EN lrotation upon aligned stub shafts 24.

Patented Mar. 28,1 1950 ROCKABLE TANK TEXTILE WASHING MACHINE Warren 0. Manley, North Kansas City, Mo., as-

' signor to C. Earl Hovey, trustee, Kansas City,

Application May 20, 1946, Serial No. 670,994

3 Claims.

This invention relates to laundry equipment and particularly to power driven washing machines and is a continuation in part of my copendng application, Serial No. 562,754, filed November 10, 1944.

The primary aim of this invention is to provide a washing machine of the aforementioned character having as a part thereof unique means for supplying steam and water to the articles being washed as the rockable tank of the machine is actuated.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a washing machine having a rockable tank and means for driving the same that is equipped with specially formed end walls designed to direct the water in a figure 8 path of travel above a perforated false bottom through which steam may be introduced as the machine is functioning; that is provided with a pair of spray heads guarded by a portion of the tank wall and disposed to direct jets of water toward the ends of the tank to engage the articles being Washed as they are driven through the aforesaid figure 8 `path of travel and as they are dropping toward the bottom of the tank near the center thereof; and. that is provided with means for draining the tank as power is being applied to the machine.

Other objects of the invention include a number of specific details permitting the tank of the Washing machine to be constantly actuated as steam and/or water is applied thereinto and as the tank is being drained.

Further aims of the invention will appear during the course of the following specification referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a power driven washing machine made pursuant to the present invention and having parts thereof broken away for clearness of illustration; and

Fig. `2 is a side elevational view thereof with parts in section to reveal the precise structure of the machine.

The form of machine chosen for illustration comprises a frame generally designated by the numeral Ill and upon which is mounted a prime mover suchas an electric moto-r I2. This motor is joined to an eccentric wheel I4 linked to tank I8 through the medium of member I8 pivotally connected as at 20 to eccentric wheel I4 and similarly as at 22 to tank I6 to one side of its axis of These stub shafts 24 are positioned near the bottom of tank I6 on the transverse longitudinal median line thereof and are in turn journaled in bearingszij supported by frame I0. A speed reducer 28 likewise carried by frame I0 is joined to motor I2 by shaft 30 and interconnected with eccentric disc I4 by a belt 32 passing over suitable pulleys 34 and 38 forming a part of speed reducer 28 and eccentric I4 respectively.

Tank I6 has a false perforated bottom 38 below which a dished portion 48 of tank I6 is disposed and from which portion drain opening 42 extends. This drain opening 42 is in communication with a drain pipe 44 having a valve 48 therein and to permit the movement of tank I8 without disengaging the means for draining the same, a fiexible section 48 is interposed between outlet opening 42 and pipe 44. False bottom 38 is substantially at and has positioned thereon a pair of longitudinally disposed ribs 58 that are formed as shown in Fig. l to diverge as the ends of the tank are approached from the transverse median line thereof. In other words, ribs 5t are arched in the form of a flattened V with the points closer together than the ends of the ribs. Such formation insures the separation of the load of clothes being treated as they are thrown from the center of tank I8 toward the ends thereof in their normal path of travel as tank I6 is rocked about its axis of rotation.

The ends of tank I6 are rounded and substantially curved in shape with an open section facing inwardly and defined between the flat side walls 52 of tank I6, the false bottom 38 thereof and an inwardly and downwardly projected lip 54 that extends below the fiat portion of the top Wall 56 of tank I6. This fiat top wall 56 combines with lips 54 in forming a cavity 58 nea-r the top of the tank within each of which is positioned a transverse pipe 60 forming a spray head capable of directing jets of water through openings 62 in paths of travel shown in Fig. 2. These spray heads 60 are interconnected by a pipe 54 which in turn is joined to a valved pipe 66 extending to a source of water supply. A flexible section 68 permits unretarded rocking of tank I6 as water is allowed to enter the tank to impinge upon the articles being washed. An access opening 'I0 in top wall 56 has a closure l2 thereover and when this closure l2 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the tank I6 is a completely closed receptable. A door I4 at one end of tank I6 near false bottom 38 allows the removal of a load of Washed articles when the tank I8 is inclined with one end thereof lower than the remaining portion. This door 'I4 controls an opening 'I6 formed in the arcuate end wall of tank I6. Door 14 is arcuate and concentric with the substantially annular end wall of the tank and is swingably carried by a pair of arms 18 movable about aligned pivot pins 80 when pressure is exerted upon handle 82 on door 14. When such pressure is exerted, the door 14 will move upwardly as Viewed in Fig. 2 and lie close to the arcuate end wall of tank I6 while opening 16 is `being uncovered. Steam enters the.

chamber below false bottom 38 through a spray head 84 joined to a flexible section of tubing 86,

which, in turn connects with steam pipe 88, Valved as at 90.

In the operation of the machinefa rocking action about stub shafts 24 is established and the contents of tank i6 will follow a gure 8 path of travel to cause the articles being washed to drop with considerable force upon false bottom 38 and the overlying ribs 58. As the articles move toward the end of tank i8 after dropping at 4itsv center as just set forth, they will be spread apart through the action of ribs 50 and then cause to ridel upwardly and'inwardly along the arcuate surface of the end .wall of tank merging `lip 54. This lip 58 protects spray heads 62 and when the articles being washed are to be rinsed, water is allowed t0 pass through spray head 62 and. impinge upon the articles being washed as they are thrown downwardly and inwardly from the respective lips o4.-

In many instances it is desirable to introduce steam into the charge of articles being washed and-when such is the case, the steam is forced upwardly through perforated false bottom 38 and directlyagainst the articles within tank I6. This action may be accomplished-either as the tank is being rocked or when the same is in a stationary condition.

The draining of tank I9 is accomplished by openingvalve 48 and it is oftentimes desirable to drain the tank at the same time fresh water is beingdirected thereinto through spray heads 62.

The employment of iiexible sections 58, 68 and 88 allows the continuous operation of the machine without disconnecting the same from the source of steam or water supply or from the drain pipe 44.

Such advantages as arise from thestructure just described are extremely advantageous in either homek or commercial operation of the washing machine.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim` as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1 A textile washingmachine of the character described comprising a frame; a tank rockably i carried bythe frame, `said tank having a top wall and a bottom wall merging at each end thereof into curved.' walls `forming a pair of end walls Yand a portion of the top wall of said tank, said end Walls each terminating in a lip projecting inwardly and downwardly into the tank; and spray heads in thetank disposed between other portionsotthe top wall of thetank and the lips respectively, said spray heads being arranged to direct uid inwardly and towards opposite ends. of the tank `as the'same is rocked on the frame.

2.` A textile washing machine of the character i8 and thev fr n described comprising a frame; a tank rockably' carried by the frame, said tank having a pair of spaced side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall merging at each end thereof into curved end walls, said end walls each terminating in a lip projecting inwardly and downwardly into the tank; and elongated spray heads in the tank extending between said side walls anddispcsed between the top wall of the tank and the lips respectively, said spray heads being arranged to direct fluid inwardly and towards opposite ends of the tank as the same is rocked on the frame, theV axis of oscillation of the tank being at its bottom intermediate said curved ends thereof,

.whereby to alternately shift the textiles in the tank against said end walls and thence inwardly through the fluid emanating from the spray heads as the tank is rocked, said axis of oscillationbeingparallel to the longitudinal axis of said spray heads and on a plane substantially midway between the spray heads.

3. A textile washing machine' of the character describedI comprising'a frame; a tank rockably carried by the frame, said tank having a top wall and a bottom wall merging at each-'end thereof into curved end walls, said .end walls each terminating in a lip` projecting inwardly and downwardly into the tank; spray heads in the tank-disposed between the top wall of the tank andthe lips respectivelysaid spray heads being arranged to direct uid inwardly and towards opposite ends Vof the tank as the same is rocked on the frame, the axis of oscillation of the tank being at its bottom intermediate said curved ends thereof, whereby to' alternately shift. the textiles in the tank against said end walls and thence inwardly through thefluid emanating from the spray heads as the `tank is rocked; and a perforated .false bottom in the tank having a pair of ribs on the uppermost face thereof, said ribs being formed to diverge as the ends of the tankare approached for spreading said textiles intov said fluid emanating from the spray heads as the textiles are shifted toward said end walls.

WARREN O. MANLEY.

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